Soil structure problems in tulip culture

Bulb production is more difficult on silt and clayey soils. Many silt soils undergo slaking and puddling during rainy winters causing bulb mortality or retarded growth. Difficulties also arise with mechanical planting and harvesting on many clayey soils. Physical properties of the soils are closely related to soil texture, lime status, organic matter percentage and drainage. For successful tulip culture the groundwater level in autumn and winter should be >1 m below the soil surface.